"The Spiritual Man"
The Normal Christian Life
Saturday, March 17, 2007
WHO IS WATCHMAN NEE?
Once I got back on the right path (way I like to reffer to my walk with the Lord) one of the books that were given to me was "The Spiritual man" by "this guy" named Watchman Nee;
The occasion took me back a couple of years, because I recall talking to my mom about him; She had read a few of his books and was very excited about it.
Well...let's fastfoward a bit, I started reading the book mentioned above and right away I can see why Mrs.Penido was so happy and touched by what she read.
Another interesting fact, is that this is the only book "Brother Nee" actually published, all the other ones were speeches that were collected and later made into a book.
Another interesting fact, is that this is the only book "Brother Nee" actually published, all the other ones were speeches that were collected and later made into a book.
Now to all my friends that have been asking me this question, here is who Watchman Nee was:
WATCHMAN NEE
Nee Shu-Tsu was born in Foochow, China. His grandfather, born in 1840, was a congregational preacher of the American supplies commission. He died in 1890. Nee’s father was Ni Weng-Sioe (W. S. Ni), born in 1877, and the fourth of nine boys. He was an officer in the Imperial Customs Service. He died in Hong Kong in 1941. Nee’s mother was Lin Gwo Ping (Peace Lin), born in 1880. She died in 1950.
When he was 17 years old (1920), and still a student, he went to hear an evangelist by the name of Dora Yu, who charged the people to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, a call that Watchman Nee accepted. From that day on, he consecrated himself completely to Jesus Christ and to the preaching of the Gospel in China.
His development was strengthened by the influence of Jessie Penn-Lewis, Robert Govett, G. H. Pember, John Nelson Darby and many others, reading as many as 3,000 books from various authors and absorbing all of them. However he once stood up and said against a certain collected Assembly: "You may well have light and truth, but knowledge alone will benefit you nothing."(heheheh...That's my boy!!!)
In some mainly Protestant Christian circles today he is known as a revolutionary preacher because of the unique manner in which he interpreted the Bible. Today many of his written books are published in English, although most have been translated from Chinese. He published regular articles in his own magazine, with The Present Testimony and The Christian being some of them.
Between the period of 1940-1960, the local church in China underwent many trials and tribulations. Many of these local churches had been founded by Watchman Nee based upon his conviction of "one church for one city or town." He believed that geographic boundaries were the only legitimate ground to have different churches to express the one body of Christ on the earth (the local church). He strongly believed that the basis of separating the churches, such as apostles and their ministries, spiritual gifts, racial or social status, or different doctrines and missions was condemned by the word of God as division and sin, and as the works of the flesh.
In the period between 1923-1949, more than 700 local churches arose with an attendance of more than 70,000. During the Chinese Communist takeover, these "assemblies" formed the core behind the house municipalities.
Through the labour of Nee and his colleagues, local assemblies were raised up all over China and among other Chinese-speaking communities in the Far East. Some of Nee's co-workers in this work later became known in their own right outside of China (e.g. - Witness Lee, Stephen Kaung, Faithful Luk, Simon Meek, and others).
In 1952, Watchman Nee was imprisoned by the Chinese government for his faith. He remained in prison until his death twenty years later. Image:Nee's Grave.jpgWatchman Nee's writings on matters of the individual Christian life have been a source of inspiration to Christians throughout the world, including his writings on the local churches. His most popular work remains The Normal Christian Life.
In the period between 1923-1949, more than 700 local churches arose with an attendance of more than 70,000. During the Chinese Communist takeover, these "assemblies" formed the core behind the house municipalities.
Through the labour of Nee and his colleagues, local assemblies were raised up all over China and among other Chinese-speaking communities in the Far East. Some of Nee's co-workers in this work later became known in their own right outside of China (e.g. - Witness Lee, Stephen Kaung, Faithful Luk, Simon Meek, and others).
In 1952, Watchman Nee was imprisoned by the Chinese government for his faith. He remained in prison until his death twenty years later. Image:Nee's Grave.jpgWatchman Nee's writings on matters of the individual Christian life have been a source of inspiration to Christians throughout the world, including his writings on the local churches. His most popular work remains The Normal Christian Life.
I will soon post a link where you can read 2 of Watchman Nee's books online; May God bless you all! L.
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